Tufting apparatus.



No. 830,504. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

H. J. JACOBS.

TUFTING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED no.4, 1905.

' THE name's PETERS C0,, WASHINGTON, n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' HENRY J. JACOBS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BUFFALO LOUNGE (10., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TUFTlNG APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. JAooBs, a citizen of the United-States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tufting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tufting-machines employing a moldboard from which rises a series of button holding or receiving posts over which the material forming the cover of the upholstering is designed to be arranged previous to the application of the filling material.

My invention has for its main objects the provision of a convenient means in the form of a measuring or gaging frame for enabling the operator to accurately, evenly, and rapidly lay out the filling material whereby a uniformity of firmness of tufts results, also in the provision of a convenient means for withdrawing such gaging-frame from the filling, leaving the latter within the tufts previous to the placing of the usual lining or backing over the mass and tufting-buttons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation and partial section of a tufting apparatus or machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the measuring or gaging frame. Fig; 3 is a similar view of one end of the moldboard.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In carrying my invention into practice I employ the usual button-post supporting moldboard 1, which is oblong and of a size sufiiciently large to accommodate and form the largest piece of upholstering that may be desired. This moldboard, as is usual, rests removably upon suitable supports 2 2 and may be provided upon its under side with cross-cleats abutting against the supports 2, whereby the relative position of the parts may be maintained. The moldboard is in the present instance provided at each of its four corners with a vertically-disposed angular guide 4 and at regular intervals with the usual vertically-disposed posts 5, between which occurs the cavities or molds 3. These posts are for the purpose of holding the usual style of tufting-button 6, and for that purpose each is provided at its upper end with a button holder or socket 7.

Suspended movably above and in line with the structure thus described is a followerboard 8, the vertical movement of the board 6c being secured by suitable suspension devicesas, for instance, a pair of ropes 9. These ropes may be counterbalanced at their opposite ends by weights and betweenthe same pass over suitable sheaves or pulleys, the

weights and pulleys not being shown.

From the under side of the aforesaid follower-board there depends a series of short plungers. 10, preferably angular in cross-section and agreeing in number with the spaces or molds occurring between the posts 5.

Between the follower-board and the moldboard, and preferably suspended from branch ropes 11, that are connected to the ropes 9 above the follower-board, is the measuring 7 5 or gage frame 12, so called by reason of the fact that its depth indicates the thickness of the filling. This frame in the present instance comprises opposite longitudinal sides and transverse end pieces (designated as 13 and 14, respectively) and a series of thin sheetmetal strips 15, which are supported by the side and end pieces and which at intervals are angularly disposed in alternately-opposite or reverse directions, the strips contacting at their angles, thus producing a frame which consists of alternately large and small spaces 16 and 17, respectively. The larger spaces correspond in number with the tufts to be formed, while the smaller spaces occurring at the angles of the larger spaces correspond with the number of button-posts 5. The two outer metal strips 15 of the series may be secured to the side and end pieces in any manner desired; but in the present invention is not limited to such details, as any I0 5 construction of frame may be substituted for that shown, the only essential being that the frame comprise large and small openmgs ar- The ends of each pair of strips are the frame, t

ranged in the manner describedthat is, with such 0 enings alternating throughout fie large openings corres onding with the position and size of the mo ds and the smaller openings corresponding in number and location with the posts 5.

The side pieces 13 are in this instance rovided each with a pair of hooks 21, to W iich are removably engaged the lower ends of the branch ropes 11. The end pieces 14 may be provided with hooks 22, designed to removably engage with corresponding eyes 23, lo cated at the ends of. the moldboard 1.

This com letes the construction, and the operation of the apparatus is as follows: The material 25 to form the cover of the upholstering is by any suitable process first marked off into diamonds or squares, according to the style of tuft desired, and the points where the button-shanks are to penetrate are thus indicated. The buttons are now placed in position in the button-holders with the piercing ends of the buttons extending upwardly. The material 25 is then arranged upon the moldboard, being forced over the penetratingpoints of the buttons, whereby, as is well rnown, the said cover is caused to sag between the buttons and into the molds 3. The gage-frame is now disconnected from the branch ropes 11 and lowered upon the material 25. It will be observed that the side and end ieces of the gage-frame terminate short of wliat would be the corners of the frame, so that said side and end pieces take between the angular guides 4 of the moldboard, or, in other words, within the spaces formed by said guides. When thus positioned, the lar er openings 16 of said gage-frame register with the molds of the board 1, while the smaller openings 17 of said frame receive the upwardly-disposed shanks of the buttons. The frame is now securely fastened in position by any suitable meanssuch, for instance, as the hooks and eyes 22 and 23.

IIeretofore it has been necessary in ap lying the filling for the upholsterer to pac r or fill each tuft by hand, experience and judgment being relied upon for a knowledge of how much filling to place in each tuft. The result was that having no guide except the sense of feeling some tufts would receive more or a less quantity of filling than others, so that the desired uniformity of firmness of the tufts did not exist in the finished upholstery. The operation of filling in accordance with my invention is, however, greatly simplified, facilitated, and accurate. Taking the parts in the position which we left them-that is, with the gage-frame 12 occupying the position shown by dotted lines, Fig. 1it w1ll be apparent that the same presents to the upholsterer a series of compartments of uniform depth, so that all the upholsterer has to do is to completely fill each of such compartments 16,-t e filling when the operation is completed presenting a level. surface and of uniform depth and density. It will be observed that no nicety of judgment is required, but simply that each compartment be filled to a point about level with the upper edge of the gage-frame, so that what has heretofore required skill and judgment can be carried on by comparatively unskilled labor. When this has been accomplished, the follower-board is lowered, so that its plungers 10-enter the compartments 16 of the gageframe. This is assured by means of the four guides 4 at the corners of the moldboard, the follower-board entering the same. The hooks 22 are now disconnected from the eyes 23 of the moldboard, and the branch ropes 11 are connected to the hooks 21 of the gage-frame. The outer ends of the ropes 9 are now drawn down or the gage-frame elevated by hand, which causes the plungers 10 to force the filling material outwardly from the various comartments 16, and as the gage-frame and folower-board'rise to a point above said filling material will be left within the cover 25 at the points where the tufts are to be formed, or, in other words, within the molds.

The remainder of the operation of forming the upholstering is the same as now commonly practiced in the artthat is to say, the usual backing (commonly of canvas) is placed over the points of the buttons, a board having openings corresponding to the button-shanks is placed upon the backing, and the moldboard containing the parts thus arranged is transferred from the supports 2 2 to the press. Pressure being brought to bear through the medium of the press, the points of the buttons are forced upwardly through the backing and through the holes of the resser-board, and while the mass is in this compressed condition the upholsterer with a suitable tool clenches the shanks of the but- The upholstering is now completed tons. and may be removed from the moldboard.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tufting apparatus, the combination with a moldboard having guides at its four corners and producing intermediate side and end spaces, of a gage-frame comprising side and end bars terminating short of the corners of the frame and adapted to fit between said guides or within the spaces produced thereby.

2. In a tufting apparatus, the combination with a moldboard having upwardly-disposed button-posts, of a gage-frame removably supported upon said posts and having openings corresponding to the posts and to the molds in the board, and means for removably locking the frame in position upon the posts.

3. In a tufting apparatus, the combination with a moldboard, of a gage-frame mounted thereon for gaging the depth of the filling material, and means for forcing said filling ICC material from said gage-frame and for raising said means and gage-frame free from the filling and moldboard.

4. In a tufting apparatus, the combination with a moldboard, of a gage-frame having openings corresponding with the molds in the board, and a follower-board having plungers for entering said openings and forcing the filling material therefrom and means for attaching the follower-board and gage-frame together and for simultaneously raising the two.

5. In a tufting apparatus, the combination with a moldboard having button-posts, of a gage-frame comprising an external frame and a series of pairs of strips angularly disposed in alternately opposite directions to produce alternating large and small spaces corresponding with the molds and button-posts, respectively.

6. In a tufting apparatus, the combination with a moldboard having button-posts, of a removable gage-frame therefor, said gageframe comprising side and end pieces and a series of pairs of strips disposed alternately at opposite angles thereby producing large and small openings corresponding to the molds and button-posts, respectively, said outer strips of the series being bent upon themselves at intervals and let into openings formed in the side pieces of the frame and the ends of the strips connected to the end pieces of the frame, and means for retaining the frame upon the moldboard.

7. In a tufting apparatus, the combination with a moldboard, of a gage-frame having openings corresponding with the molds in the board, a superimposed follower-board having plungers for entering the openings in the frame, suspension-ropes connected to the follower-board, and branch ropes leading from angular guides of the moldboard, and a common suspension means for the follower-board and the gage-frame.

9. In a tufting apparatus, the combination with a moldboard, of a gage-frame mounted thereon for gaging the depth of the filling material, and means for forcing said filling material from said gage-frame, and subsequently for simultaneously raising said means and gage-frame free from the filling and moldboard.

10. In a tufting apparatus, the combination with a moldboard having button-posts, of a gage-frame comprising a series of strips arranged to form spaces agreeing with the molds of the board and with the posts thereof, the walls of the latter openings being adapted to rest upon the posts, whereby said posts support the frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY J. JACOBS;

Witnesses:

AUGUST BECKER, MARGARET G. GILBERT. 

